Ohne

Ohne is a common German preposition meaning "without." It expresses the absence, lack, or exclusion of something or someone and governs the accusative case for the following noun or pronoun. It is used with a wide range of nouns, pronouns, and noun phrases: for example, ohne Zucker (without sugar), ohne dich (without you), ohne Risiko (without risk).

Grammatical details: After without, the noun or pronoun is in the accusative. This yields forms such as ohne den Mann (masculine), ohne die Frau (feminine), ohne das Kind (neuter), and ohne die Leute (plural). Pronouns follow the same rule: ohne mich, ohne dich, etc. The preposition can also be combined with adverbial phrases and infinitive constructions, for instance ohne zu zögern (without hesitating) or in a clause like Er ging, ohne sich umzusehen (He left without looking around).

Usage notes: Ohne marks absence of something in relation to the action or situation described. It contrasts with nicht, which negates the predicate or an adjective, while ohne negates the object or element that is missing. It appears in formal and informal registers and is productive across everyday speech and written text.

Common fixed phrases: ohne Wenn und Aber (without conditions or exceptions), ohne Weiteres (without further ado), ohne Unterlass (without rest/ceaselessly), and without doubt or challenge in contexts like ohne Zweifel.

Translations: In English, ohne is most directly rendered as "without," though usage depends on context and can resemble phrases like "lacking" or "devoid of" in more descriptive styles.